A Debate on War Powers and ISIS

John Yoo
John Yoo
85
 

On Monday, I debated Bruce Fein of the Committee for the Republic (which I think supports an isolationist foreign policy) in Washington, D.C. on war powers and the Obama campaign against ISIS. For those interested, you will see a good back and forth on the constitutional and legal issues involved. But what deeply surprised me was Fein’s belief, apparently shared by many in the audience, that members of the U.S. government and military deliberately provoke fear and seek to make war so as to benefit themselves when they leave public service and enter the private sector. The far political left and right meet when they both repeat the shallow Marxist critiques of the Vietnam War and U.S. foreign policy.

Did I overreact? You can watch the debate here, via C-SPAN.

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  1. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck
    8:05 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 17, 2014

    John Yoo: But what deeply surprised me was Fein’s belief, apparently shared by many in the audience, that members of the U.S. government and military deliberately provoke fear and seek to make war so as to benefit themselves when they leave public service and enter the private sector. The far political left and right meet when they both repeat the shallow Marxist critiques of the Vietnam War and U.S. foreign policy.

    Glenn Reynolds has been beating the drum on this topic for a very long time.  Not as regards the “military-industrial complex”, but just government officials in general.  It’s pretty much indisputable that it does happen, in my view.  Does it also happen in the military-industrial complex?  I’d be surprised to learn that it doesn’t.  Why should they be immune to the very human desire to make a nice living?

    Far from being a “shallow Marxist critique”, this is a basic observation of human nature, and the primary argument for a small government.  Power corrupts…

    http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/?s=Revolving+Door+Surtax

    • #1
  2. Albert Arthur Coolidge
    Albert Arthur
    @AlbertArthur
    8:13 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 17, 2014

    Tuck: It’s pretty much indisputable that it does happen, in my view.

    “Cheney invaded Iraq to help Haliburton”?

    • #2
  3. user_259843 Inactive
    user_259843
    @JefferyShepherd
    8:19 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 17, 2014

    I find Chertoff particularly scummy.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/23/fear_pays_chertoff_n_787711.html

    • #3
  4. user_280840 Inactive
    user_280840
    @FredCole
    8:21 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 17, 2014

    Anybody know if the audio of this is available for download?

    • #4
  5. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy
    8:45 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 17, 2014

    Edit: Whoops. Wrong thread. Apologies. Editors, feel free to delete.

    • #5
  6. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck
    8:53 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 17, 2014

    Albert Arthur, 16th Earl of Tuftonboro, Lord Dime-Hacker, etc.: “Cheney invaded Iraq to help Haliburton”?

    No, people promote some policy and then go to private industry to help them deal with it.

    The Cheney/Halliburton thing was conspiracy theorism at it’s worst.

    • #6
  7. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck
    8:54 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 17, 2014

    Fred Cole: Anybody know if the audio of this is available for download?

    I don’t.  He also debated Ilya Somin, who I think has the better of this argument (based on his writings, not this podcast, which I haven’t listened to yet).

    “My National Constitution Center podcast debating ISIS and presidential war powers with John Yoo”

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/09/16/my-national-constitution-center-podcast-debating-isis-and-presidential-war-powers-with-john-yoo/

    • #7
  8. user_75648 Thatcher
    user_75648
    @JohnHendrix
    4:53 PM EDT ⋅ Sep 17, 2014

    John Yoo:Did I overreact?

    No, you went too easy on Bruce Fein.  Frankly I was angered by Fein’s exhibition of mendacity and his trafficking in fringe conspiracy theories that defamed our country and our military.  Unfortunately this is what I’ve come to expect from from a certain variety of Ron Paul fan.

    I am disappointed that you didn’t leave Fein lying in a pool of his own blood.  (Metaphorically speaking, of course.)

    • #8
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